Unlearning as a Leadership Skill: Letting Go to Move Forward

Picture a team standing at the edge of a wide river. Their task is simple in description but daunting in practice: get everyone across together. The leader steps forward, confident and decisive. With authority, they begin to direct the group. The team follows, trying to execute the plan with precision.

But progress is slow. The strategy feels forced. The team is working hard, yet the current of the river is unrelenting. The leader’s approach, though familiar and structured, is not getting them anywhere.

It is only when the leader pauses that the breakthrough comes. Instead of pressing harder with the same plan, they step back and invite input. A quieter team member suggests an alternative route. Another points out a tool no one had noticed before. Together, the group adjusts. They make progress, not by pushing the old method harder, but by letting go of it.

This is unlearning in action. And for leaders, it is one of the most powerful skills to master.

Why Leaders Must Learn to Let Go

Leadership has often been defined by certainty. People expect leaders to know the way forward, to have the answers, to show confidence even in times of doubt. Yet in today’s environment, where change is constant and challenges are complex, certainty can become a trap.

Holding on to “the way we have always done it” may feel safe, but it closes the door to innovation and growth.

Unlearning is not about forgetting what has been learned or erasing experience. It is about recognising when knowledge or habits are no longer useful and being brave enough to release them. This ability to let go creates space for new thinking, fresh approaches, and hidden strengths to emerge.

Strong leaders know that their role is not to cling to control, but to build trust. It is not to guard old assumptions, but to challenge them. It is not to hold all the responsibility, but to share it so that others can rise.

The Power of Unlearning in Leadership

When leaders model unlearning, they give their teams permission to do the same. Instead of being bound by rigid processes, teams begin to experiment. Instead of waiting for direction, individuals step forward with ideas. Instead of relying on hierarchy, they draw on collective intelligence.

Unlearning shifts the energy of a team. It allows leadership to be seen not as a fixed position but as a shared responsibility. It invites resilience, adaptability, and creativity.

In practice, this means a leader who once felt pressure to provide all the answers now feels comfortable asking better questions. A team that once relied on one dominant voice now benefits from many perspectives. And an organisation that once resisted change now begins to thrive on it.

Practising Unlearning as a Leader

Unlearning is not something that happens all at once. It is a discipline, a habit to cultivate over time. Leaders can start with small steps:

• Ask different questions. Instead of asking, “What do I know?” ask, “What do I need to let go of?” This shift reframes leadership as openness rather than authority.

• Rotate responsibility. In meetings or projects, allow others to take the lead, even briefly. This builds confidence in the team and helps the leader practise stepping back.

• Reflect on assumptions. At the end of a project, ask, “Which habits or beliefs held us back?” By identifying what to release, teams learn to make space for better practices.

  
  

Takeaway

Leadership is often seen as holding firm, staying the course, and providing certainty. Yet the leaders who truly inspire progress know when to loosen their grip. They understand that clinging to yesterday’s successes can block tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

Unlearning is the bridge between what once worked and what will work next. It does not diminish a leader’s authority. Instead, it deepens it by building trust, unlocking creativity, and drawing strength from the entire team.

Great leadership is not only about learning more. It is about knowing what to leave behind. When leaders practise unlearning, they step into a space where growth, innovation, and transformation can truly take place.